Writing an individual submission

The Council relies on advocacy groups but also individuals to make submissions on design proposals like for cycle ways. Below are some tips on how you can put together an effective submission.

Introduce yourself and explain why the particular route or location is important to you personally, e.g. for your daily commute, or getting your kids to school.

Give your story that best describes the key concerns are that you experience today, e.g. cars pulling in and out of parking spaces.

Explain how the proposed design will help to address your concerns.

Detail what concerns it does not address, or what issues the proposed design may create for you.

Give your view of what more can be done to make this a great solution not for you right now, but for the future and for others.

Below is an example. Don’t copy and paste, but use this to create a submission that is uniquely yours.

“My name is Shirley Bessy. I can be classed as a concerned but keen cyclists, and I use Thorndon Quay most workdays as the most direct route to get to or from my work on The Terrace, and sometimes to visit one of the shops on Thorndon Quay. Cycling has helped me enormously with my fitness.

Thorndon Quay is the most dangerous part of the route. I have had a few too many close calls where cars pull in and out of car parks, and each day I am really worried that someone will suddenly reverse out of one of the angle car parks and force me into the path of other traffic. I am sure that if I have an accident or too many more close calls that I will stop cycling for my commute.

The proposed Thorndon Quay changes will go a little towards making it safer. It will avoid the illegal angle parking along the clearway that currently continues to happen between the VTNZ building and the lights by Mulgrave streets. The road side painted cycle lane will however probably do little to make my commute in the event any safer as drivers will no doubt still pull in and out of car parks without looking for cyclists.

The proposal sadly does nothing to make the main part of Thorndon Quay any safer and I am really disappointed that I have to continue to risk my safety on the evening commute back home, particularly during the darker and wetter winter days when I’ve come closest to having an accident and feel really worried.

I am desperately waiting for a Thorndon Quay that is safe enough for less confident cyclists like myself. I understand that the Council is considering Aotea Quay as an alternative option, but I would not use that as my commute option as it would add considerable distance and time to my journey. I am not sure why the Council would want to force me to do so, when in fact in should encourage cycling by providing a network of convenient routes. I see Thorndon Quay as an important connection for people commuting between Wellington and the northern suburbs and the Hutt Valley.”

It does not need to be perfect. The important thing is that you have your say!